Attendees of the Sims Library “Wine with Friends” use the wine tips presented by Red, White, & Brew proprietor Todd Delaune on how to fully enjoy all the senses of wine. Sarah Hess/The Lion’s Roar

The Sims Memorial Library held its ninth annual fundraiser “Wine with Friends.” 

On Nov. 3, the university library’s organization Friends of Sims Library hosted “Wine with Friends,” a wine tasting benefit party held on the second floor of the library. All proceeds raised at the meal and wine tasting night went to the library. Past funds raised by this event helped fund the new furniture purchased last year, lecture series and the charging towers.

Assistant Professor and Head of the Serials Department Janie Branham explained the purpose behind the creation of FoSL 10 years ago.

“We created FoSL because we needed a fundraising element to our organization,” said Branham. “But more importantly we just wanted to make people aware of the library and what we have and the fact that we are open to the community. It isn’t just our faculty and staff and students. We’re open to community users.” 

For information on membership into FoSL, the library has brochures, and the library’s website offers more information on the group. The organization has an annual “Membership Drive” in February and a “Member’s Tea” in March.

Branham stated that the crowd’s size for this year’s benefit was a good size and described how it has grown over the years. 

“From the very first wine tasting we did nine years ago, people left that night saying, ‘You need to do this every week,’” said Branham. “So we compromised, and we do it once a year, and every year it has grown.” 

Besides ticket purchases, one of the ways the night raises funds is a silent auction of donated items. With the event’s growth, the action has also grown in size, offering gift cards to local restaurants, passes to literary festivals and a 12-month subscription to Mystery Experience mystery solving boxes. Proprietor of Red, White & Brew and MC Todd Delaune gave insights to the different wines for the evening’s audience. 

 “This is the third year we’ve participated, and we actually donate the majority of the wine that’s here tonight, and I come out and help the MC so I can give them some education on the wine,” said Delaune. 

Delaune shared his thoughts on the event and why people should consider attending. 

“It’s fantastic,” said Delaune. “It’s my third year, and it just gets better every time. It’s just a great event. The food’s good. The wine’s good. The company’s good. The cause is good. It’s a win-win for everybody.”

“Wine with Friends,” which had been in the making since June, raised $4,105 in proceeds, its largest sum collected since the event started in 2008.